Dr. Rudy spent several hours on the tarmac Saturday before the crew announced the plane had a mechanical issue, her husband said.

Passengers were finally removed from the plane after midnight and given the option of taking a shuttle bus to a nearby hotel, which Dr. Rudy did, her husband said.

She and other passengers were told to meet the shuttle bus at 4 a.m. this morning.

But Dr. Rudy and the other passengers arrived at the airport Sunday to find "no plane and no crew," Michael Rudy said.

"They waited for nine hours and finally boarded at 1 p.m. today (Sunday)," Rudy said. "They've been kept sitting on the tarmac for another 2 1/2 hours and they (United's crew) won't let them get off the plane. They were told there were problems with the luggage inspection, they've been told the plane is overweight."

United Airlines Flight 73 also experienced a 10 hour delay Sunday and arrived in Honolulu at 4:51 a.m. today.

United Airlines spokeswoman Mary Clark said the passengers were allowed to leave the plane Sunday evening.

"They're not on the plane," she said Sunday. "They're in the airport and they can leave and do whatever they want for the next nine hours."